Fitted bed sheet



FITTED BED SHEET Filed Aug. 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ALBERTAJ. MING mam/M. fawn MTTQRMLEYS m I? W@ A. J. mm

FITTED BED SHEET 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 10, 1953 INVENTOR. ALBERTAJ. -KING 0 a ATTORNEYS QEZZWHQMQMMMWE FITTED BED SHEET Alberta J. King,Akron, Ohio Application August 10, 1953, Serial No. 373,201 Claims. (Cl.5--334) This invention relates to bed sheets, and especially to aspecial fitted type of bed sheets that are particularly designed for useas upper bed sheets but which in one form of the invention are designedfor use as bottom bed sheets.

Heretofore there have been various B'EOItS made to provide fitted bedsheets of special contours for. engaging a bed mattress so that thesheet will be retained in snug engagement with such mattress or otherpositioning member. These fitted or specially shaped bed sheets haveusually been quite difficult to engage with a mattress, and it has beendifficult to construct such bed sheets so that they would fit aspecially sized or shape mattress. Usually such fitted sheets have beenrelatively complex and hence have been somewhat costly to produce andsell commercially. Also, it is difiicult to iron prior types of fittedsheets as they can not be flattened. Another objection of various typesof fitted bed sheets is that different styles of bed sheets have beenrequired for the lower or bottom sheet and for the upper sheet of a pairof sheets. Inasmuch as the bottom sheets usually wear much more rapidlyin a pair of sheets than the upper sheet, this is a disadvantageinasmuch as one would have to buy separate bottom sheets and these couldnot be matched with any special color or size of an upper sheetoriginally bought as one of a pair of sheets.

The general object of the present invention is to avoid and overcome theforegoing and other difliculties with and disadvantages of present typesof sheets and to provide a special fitted sheet that is provided withend corners for engaging a mattress at only one pair of ends of a sheet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fitted sheet especiallyadapted for use an an upper sheet, and which sheet is of inexpensive,uncomplicated construction and which can be readily cut from flat sheetmaterial.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a special fitted bedsheet for use as an upper sheet and wherein bottom pockets are providedfor engaging with a mattress and wherein special gussets are provided atthe sides of the sheet at the bottom corners thereof to provide leg roomin the lower portion of the sheet when engaged with a bed or mattress.

A further object of the invention is to provide fitted sheets withspecial mattress engaging pockets at only one end of the sheet andwherein the bottom sheet of a pair of the fitted sheets engaged with amattress could have the pockets thereof engaged with the upper end ofthe mattress and have the lower end of such bottom sheet secured to themattress by the pocket portions of an upper sheet also engaged with thelower end of the mattress and extending over the mattress.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide pocket members insheets for engaging a mattress and with such. pockets being adapted tobe disassembled andfiattened so that the sheets can be ironed readily.

Yet a further object is to cut substantially triangular States Patent 02,757,389 Patented Aug. 7, 1956 pieces from the material used in makingbed sheets to aid in providing rounded corners on a finished bed sheet.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will bemade more apparent as the specification proceeds.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had tothe accompanying drawings wherein currently preferred embodiments of theinvention are shown and wherein;

Fig. 1 is a broken away plan of a flat pattern of one fitted sheet ofthe invention;

Fig. 2 shows the first operation in securing the bottom portion of thesheet of Fig. 1 to the lower part of an end portion of the sheet;

Fig. 3 shows the next operations of sewing together the upper edge ofthe end portion of the sheet to the side of the sheet and the sewing ofedges of the side and end portions to the top portion of the sheet andwith the corner and end of the sheet being in an open non-operativeposition;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective showing the top sheet of theinvention in engagement with a mattress;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary bottom perspective view of the sheet andmattress of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary lay out of a sheet of the invention equippedwith slide fastener means for securing the sheet in desired pocket format one corner thereof;

Fig. 7 is a fiat lay out of a different style of sheet embodying theprinciples of the invention; 7

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary bottom perspective of the sheet of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 99 of Fig. 4.

The present invention relates to a bed sheet wherein a sheet member isprovided that has top and bottom portions with substantially triangularsections removed from the top portion of the sheet member at least atthe bottom corners thereof Where such top portion engages the endportion of the sheet member, the bottom portion also havingsubstantially triangular sections removed from the corners thereof wherethe bottom portion joins the end portion so that free end sections areprovided on the end portion of the sheet member whereby the bottomportion may be folded under the top portion and have the end sections ofthe end portion secured both to the bottom portion and to the topportion of the sheet member to aid in providing rounded corners on thecompleted sheet and to provide an end pocket for engaging an end portionof the mattress. The invention also relates to the provision of specialgusset members used to connect free end sections of the end portion ofthesheet to the side portions of the sheet member so that the bottomportion of the sheet can be snugly engaged with the mattress and leavethe upper portion of the sheet free for limited upward movement withrelation to the tress.

With reference to the details of the accompanying drawings, a novelfitted bed sheet of the invention is indicated as a whole by the numeral1 and Fig. 1 shows a flat pattern of this sheet. portion 2, sideportions 3 and 4, an end portion 5 and a bottom portion 6 with all ofsuch top, side, end and bottom portions being integrally formed from oneflat sheet member as laid out in Fig. 1. As an important feature of theinvention, substantially triangular sections each of which has at leastone arcuate edge, 7 and 8 are removed from the top portion 2 of thesheetat the place where such top portion joins the end portion at thelower corners of the top portion of the sheet. Likewise. at the edges ofthe bottom portion 6 where it engages the end portion 5, similarsubstantially. triangular portions are cut from I the sheet blank sothat rounded corners 9 and 10;.are

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The sheet includes a top provided on the bottom portion 6 of the sheetwhere it engages the end portion 5.

As an important feature of the invention, substantially free endsections 11 and 12 are provided on the end portion at the lateralmargins thereof by the removal of the sections to leave the roundedcorners 7, 8, 9 and 10, and by the extension of such end portionlaterally of the sheet. It will be noted that the upper edges of suchfree end sections are shorter than the lower edges and that such top andbottom portions of the end sections are joined by a slanted lineindicated at C to D in the drawmg.

In order to complete the desired fitted sheet from the cut patterntherefor, first the edges A-B and B-C are sewed or otherwise suitablysecured together, as indicated in Fig. 2. Next the sections E-D and F-Hare secured to the contoured top portion of the sheet indicated by theline EF. After such portions of the sheet have been fastened together,then the fitted sheet can be completed and a desired mattress engagingpocket can be provided on the end of the sheet by sewing or otherwisesecuring the edge D-C to the portion HG of the sheet so that the cornerpart of the sheet is completed, as indicated in Fig. 3. Both lowercorners of the sheet are of similar construction so that when suchfitted sheet is engaged with a mattress 13, as indicated in Fig. 4-, themattress will smoothly engage the pockets produced in the end of thesheet and the more or less gusset-like end parts of the end portion 5 ofthe sheet will provide a folded section under each of the sides 3 and 4of the sheets where they extend laterally over and down around themattress 13 with which the sheet is engaged, all as indicated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 of the drawings shows that the bottom portion 6 of the fittedsheet of the invention extends transversely of the mattress 13 and is insnug engagement therewith. The slanted end sections 11 and 12 providedon the end portion 5 of the sheet provides additional sheet space orlength so that the top portion 2 of the sheet can be freely raised ashort distance adjacent the bottom end of the sheet where engaged withthe mattress by the pocket formed in such lower end of the sheet so thatsufficient foot and leg room is provided for a person on the mattress 13with the sheet 1 over him.

Insmuch as sometimes it is desired to facilitate the ironing of fittedsheets like that of the invention, Fig. 6 of the drawings shows amodified form of the invention wherein a fitted sheet 1a of theinvention which can be substantially flattened for ironing is indicatedand has two slide fastener means extending between the points D H and GC of the sheet and also between the point B C and B and A of the sheet.Thus movement of the two slide fasteners to their closed positions willprovide a desired pocket member in the lower portion of the sheet. Ofcourse both corners of the sheet have similar closure means providedthereon. It will be realized that snap fasteners, for example, couldalso be used for securing the adjacent edges of the sheet 1a of theinvention together when the sheet is operatively positioned.

Fig. 7 of the drawings shows a modified form of the invention wherein asheet member 20 is provided and it has a side portion 21 providedtherefor whereas a side bottom portion 22 is also provided on the sheet,and an end 23 is provided on the sheet and has an end bottom portion 24.All of these portions of the sheet are integrally formed. The drawingclearly shows that substantially triangular portions have been removedfrom the top portion 20 of the sheet to form a curved surface 25 at acorner thereof, whereas a similar curved corner 26 is provided on thebottom portion 24 of the sheet. Free en'd sections 27 and 28,respectively are provided on the end 23 and the side 21 of the sheet ofthe invention and a desired curved or fitted corner may be provided onthe sheet when the upper edges of the end sections, as indicated M-N andOP are sewed or otherwise secured to the curved portion M-Pof the toppart of the sheet. The vertically extending portions NQ and 0-H of theend and side of thesheet and also are sewed or otherwise securedtogether and a sheet can then be completed by sewing the bottom portion24 along the line ST to the surfaces SQ and RU of the sheet after which,or before which the end portion of the side 22 indicated at U-V canlikewise be secured to the same bottom edges of the sheet so that afitted corner is provided with overlapped bottom end and side bottomportions secured together only at the corners of the pocket so produced.All four corners of the sheet are finished in the same manner.

It is thought that the triangularly shaped end portions of the endsections 11 and 12 are very important in providing the extra portions inthe finished sheet to permit upward movement of the top portion of thesheet.

It will be realized that the pattern shown for the sheets may provide alittle extra length of fabric to facilitate securing or overlappingadjacent edges of the sheet sections together. In varying the sheets ofthe invention to different thicknesses of mattresses, or todifferentradii corners, then the curves such as those indicated at EFand A-B in Fig. 1 can be altered to vary such curve to the actualmattress contour. Of course, the ends 5 of the sheet of the invention asshown in Fig. 1 would likewise be varied in thickness with differentmattress thicknesses.

It is contended that the sheets of the invention can be readily cut fromany suitable fabric and that the adjacent portions of the sheets can beeasily sewed together as described hereinbefore to complete the sheetsof the invention. Preferably the sheet of the invention referred to inFigs. 1 through 5 would be used as a top sheet only, but as explainedhereinbefore such sheet may also be used as a bottom sheet when desired.The sheet of the invention shown in Fig. 7 can most conveniently be usedas a bottom sheet.

It should be noted that the point I-I, Fig. 1, may be moved up towardsthe point F if desired and a little more length be added to the edge E-Dto compensate for the change of location of H. In fact, theend sectionsor gussets 11 and 12 may be of substantially rectangular shape by movingthe point D to be about aligned longitudinally of the sheet with C. Thensecuring the edge C-D to the edge GH will provide additional pocketforming material in the completed sheet and permit greater freedom ofmovement of the top portion 2.

, For some sheets, particularly if slide fasteners are used therein, theportion E-FH in Fig. 1 may be left in the sheet member. If only oneslide fastener is used, a separate piece is cut from the sheet patternand the slide would go from A to B to E to D and then join CG to end theslide movement.

For clarity in the drawings, the seam formed between the end portion 5and the bottom portion 6 of the sheet is indicated by the numeral 31,whereas the numeral 30 is used for representing the diagonal seamconnecting the top and bottom portions of the sheet when the sheet isoperatively positioned as indicated in Fig. 4. Such operativepositioning of the sheet produces a bulge or loop of fabric 32 in theside portion of the sheet where is overhangs the mattress. Theproduction of this loop 32 is an important feature of the invention bywhich toe space is provided in the sheet of the invention whenoperatively positioned.

It is thought that the objects of the invention are achieved by theprovision of the novel sheets of the invention which are adapted to fitaccurately upon mattresses and be retained snugly in engagementtherewith.

While several complete embodiments of the invention have been disclosedherein, it will be appreciated that modification of these particularembodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing fromthe scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a fitted sheet comprising unitary top,side, end, and bottom portions, said top portion having rectilinear sideand end marginal crease lines at its sides and end connected at cornersof the top portion by arcuate margins corresponding to arcuate cornersof a mattress, the end portion of the sheet having integral gussetportions at the lateral margins thereof which gusset portions are longerat the lower than at the upper margins thereof and with a slanted edgeconnecting the upper margin to the lower margin, the side portions ofthe sheet having bottom ends extending normal to the longitudinal axisof the sheet, the upper margins of said gusset portions being secured tothe arcuate corner portions of said top portion, the lower margins ofsaid gusset portions being secured to the arcuate corner and side edgesof said bottom portion to help provide an end pocket for engaging amattress, the slanted edges of said gusset portions being connected tothe bottom ends of said side portions to complete the mattress engagingpocket and connect the side portions to the rest of the sheet by anextensible pocket provided by the gusset portions.

2. As an article of manufacture, a fitted sheet comprising unitary top,side, end, and bottom portions, said top portion having rectilinear sideand end marginal crease lines at its sides and end connected at cornersof the top portion by arcuate margins corresponding to arcuate cornersof the mattress, said bottom portion having similar arcuate corners, theend portion of the sheet having gussets at the lateral margins thereofwhich gussets are longer at the lower than at the upper margins thereofand with a slanted edge connecting the upper margin to the lower marginthereof, the side portions of the sheet having bottom ends extending atleast substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the sheet, thelower margins of said gussets being secured to the side edges of saidbottom portion to help provide an end pocket for engaging a mattress,the slanted edges of said gussets being connected to the bottom ends ofsaid side portions, and the upper margins of said gussets being securedalong the arcuate corners of the top portions, to connect the sideportions to the rest of the sheet by an extensible pocket provided bythe gussets.

3. As an article of manufacture, a bed sheet including a top, a bottom,end portions and a pair of side portions, means securing the edges ofsaid bottom portion to the lower part of said end portion to provide apocket for engaging a mattress having a depth at the end of the mattressno greater than the thickness of the mattress, said end portion havingright angle triangular shape end por tions extending around a corner inthe sheet into the side portion of the sheet as operatively positionedwith the hypotenuse of such section extending downwardly and forwardlyof the sheet, the rear edge of said side portions of the sheet extendingdownwardly and forwardly of the sheet and being secured to thehypotenuse of said end section of said end portion whereby excessmaterial is provided in the side portions of the sheet adjacent said endportion when engaging a mattress.

4. A fitted sheet as defined by claim 2 in which all of the portions arenormally disposed in a flat plane to facilitate ironing and may be heldin shape to provide a pocket by separable fasteners secured to theiradjacent margins.

5. A fitted bed sheet for use over a mattress having rounded corners,said sheet comprising a top panel, a pair of side panels, at least oneend panel, and. a flap integral with said end panel for underlying anend of the mattress, said top panel having rectilinear side and endmargins corresponding to rectilinear margins of the mattress and meetingarcuate corner portions of radius corresponding to corners of themattress, the end panel terminating at said arcuate corners in tabs ofwidth equal to the depth of the mattress and of length at least equal tothe depth of the mattress, said flap for underlying said mattress beingequal in width at its free margin to the width of the top panel with itsside margins curved to provide arcuate corners correpsonding in shape tothe corners of the top panel, the curved corners of the top panel andthose of the flap meeting the top and bottom margins of the tabs of theend panel and being secured thereto throughout their arcuate extent toprovide a pocket smoothly conforming to the corners of the mattress,said side panels being of such depth as to permit to be tucked under themattress.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fordet a1. Nov. 30, 1954 p

